Wideband Problem

[N0sferatU]

I have an Innovative LC-1 and it works great but whenever the roads are wet (and it's raining) it stops working. The gauge freezes on a set air/fuel and doesn't budge. When you restart the car the gauge will just flash on/off at 7.4 or 22.4 (the extreme ends of the reading range).

Any ideas what I should look for? I have it installed way up in my downpipe and I have an open cutout. I'm putting an e-cutout on the car in the next week or so but is it possible that water is splashing up the pipe??

The entire unit's setup is inside the car and the wiring for the Bosch sensor goes from the shifter linkage, rests above the heatshield, and goes up the few inches to the downpipe.

[Rdeaner]

Quote: Originally Posted by N0sferatU

I have an Innovative LC-1 and it works great but whenever the roads are wet (and it's raining) it stops working. The gauge freezes on a set air/fuel and doesn't budge. When you restart the car the gauge will just flash on/off at 7.4 or 22.4 (the extreme ends of the reading range).

Any ideas what I should look for? I have it installed way up in my downpipe and I have an open cutout. I'm putting an e-cutout on the car in the next week or so but is it possible that water is splashing up the pipe??

The entire unit's setup is inside the car and the wiring for the Bosch sensor goes from the shifter linkage, rests above the heatshield, and goes up the few inches to the downpipe.

I'm not familiar with that WB in particular... But I'd say that you are getting a short of some kind. Does that brand have the function to let you know if it the sensor gets too cold? That would be able to tell you if you're getting water around the sensor or exhaust. If not, I'd say its a short or a short somewhere else if its on the same circuit as something else. Take a voltmeter to it and see what its putting out, should be somewhere in the range of 0-5v from 10-25afr respectively. Other than that check for exposed wires and anything out of the ordinary. You could be bleeding voltage to ground. Not sure if this helps man- good luck

[dtecneon]

Check the connections, then check out the Air temp around the WB. If its cold out it will mess up your WB. Make sure you keep everything in warm temp... Check you connections to the WB and make sure there connected GOOD !!

If you have any problems we can help you at:
NeonDtecEquipment - Dtec,Dtec Repair, ETC.

If you cant find the answer somewhere get your Manufacturer of the WB and ask them.

I hope that helps.

[duster360]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rdeaner

I'm not familiar with that WB in particular... But I'd say that you are getting a short of some kind. Does that brand have the function to let you know if it the sensor gets too cold? That would be able to tell you if you're getting water around the sensor or exhaust. If not, I'd say its a short or a short somewhere else if its on the same circuit as something else. Take a voltmeter to it and see what its putting out, should be somewhere in the range of 0-5v from 10-25afr respectively. Other than that check for exposed wires and anything out of the ordinary. You could be bleeding voltage to ground. Not sure if this helps man- good luck

Bad wiring sounds very reasonable. You need to isolate if the issue is with the guage wiring or the power to the sensor. You can do this very easily by plugging in the Lc-1 to your computer. If the A/F reading in Logworks is steady, then the issue is with the analog/ground output to the gauge.

[N0sferatU]

Okay I'm an electrical newbie for the most part but I just recently got an electronic cutout so I'm able to close the cutout. Before I figured if it was raining out water would splash up the pipe and hit the sensor but that can't happen now and it'll still mess up. (Oh and of course rain or not the electronic cutout works w/o a hitch)

It has nothing to do with the sensor being cold as I've used this unit in colder weather and no problems...it may take a few seconds longer to warmup before it starts working but it'll work without a problem.

Is it possible the sensor and/or the wires aren't waterproof or something I mean what's the deal? I'm awaiting a response back from Innovative but in the mean time I figured I'll bump this thread up for anyone else with more advise. Thanks!

[rasp]

I have the LC-1 and haven't had this issue. Mine is mounted most likely where yours is, on the incline of the downpipe. I've driven my car in the ran and have had no problems.

Check all connections. Any chance you can have someone watch the gauge and you wiggle the O2 sensor wiring to see if it changes? Also check the adapter that houses all the LC-1's electronics and make sure that looks OK. I have mine zip-tied to a brace on the motor to keep it from bouncing around.

Perhaps you should recalibrate it again and see if that fixes the problem?

[duster360]

Quote: Originally Posted by N0sferatU

Is it possible the sensor and/or the wires aren't waterproof or something I mean what's the deal? I'm awaiting a response back from Innovative but in the mean time I figured I'll bump this thread up for anyone else with more advise. Thanks!

Yes the connections are water proof. You need to narrow down the possible problems. Is it the O2 and/ controller or is it the pos guage and/or its wiring?

I'll ask this again because you obviously failed to grasp its importance:

Does the A/F read fine on the PC?????

If the A/F reads fine when connected to the serial output from the LC-1 then the O2 sensor, O2 sensor wiring, Lc-1 connector and most likely the LC-1 itself is fine.

If the guage is still jacked up but the reading is good in Logworks on your PC, then the gauge, its wiring connection or possibly the analog out from the LC-1 is fubared.

[N0sferatU]

Quote: Originally Posted by rasp

I have the LC-1 and haven't had this issue. Mine is mounted most likely where yours is, on the incline of the downpipe. I've driven my car in the ran and have had no problems.

Yea I have it on the incline part of the pipe at around the 9:30/10:00 position if you were to look up the pipe

Quote: Originally Posted by rasp

Check all connections. Any chance you can have someone watch the gauge and you wiggle the O2 sensor wiring to see if it changes? Also check the adapter that houses all the LC-1's electronics and make sure that looks OK. I have mine zip-tied to a brace on the motor to keep it from bouncing around.

I can try and have someone look but the LC-1's unit is INSIDE THE CAR behind my headunit / stereo so it's away from the outdoor elements.

Quote: Originally Posted by rasp

Perhaps you should recalibrate it again and see if that fixes the problem?

I could...but this problem I had from day 1 (I calibrated it when I first installed it)

Quote: Originally Posted by duster360

I'll ask this again because you obvioasly failed to grasp its importance:

Does the A/F read fine on the PC?????

LOL...I don't have a laptop with a serial connection so I can't do that. Plus wouldn't I have to wait until it rains again before this comes up. I mean I could always wire the unit into my Aerometer scan gauge and see if it outputs the same problem.

[duster360]

Quote: Originally Posted by N0sferatU

LOL...I don't have a laptop with a serial connection so I can't do that. Plus wouldn't I have to wait until it rains again before this comes up. I mean I could always wire the unit into my Aerometer scan gauge and see if it outputs the same problem.

You need to narrow down the problem. Reading the A/F straight out of the serial connection is the best and easiest way to eliminate all but the crap ass guage and/or frayed wiring from being the problem.

can you figure out what I think the issue is?